Big Brother’s John James: his age, Josie Gibson romance and what he’s doing now

James John starred on Big Brother UK and Love Island Australia

John James from Big Brother and Josie Gibson

by Ruby Norris and Nathan Katnoris |
Updated on

Cast your minds back to 2010 when Big Brother was the only reality TV show we gave a sh*t about. Y'know, the days before Love Island and the Islanders it births occupying our every waking (and sleeping) thought.

Back then, Big Brother 11 was the highlight of our TV schedule and it was an absolute belter of a series, in our opinion. Mainly, because it brought us the iconic – yet, sadly short-lived – reality TV romance between Bristolian Josie Gibson and Australian John James Parton.

While we know exactly what national treasure Josie is doing, what happened to John James you might ask.

Here is everything you need to know about the Aussie hunk.

John James
Josie Gibson and John James Parton dated briefly after meeting in the Big Brother house ©Shutterstock

How old is John James Parton?

John James was born on 28 August 1985, making him 38 years old and a Virgo.

What happened to John James Parton on Big Brother?

John James was a housemate on Big Brother 11. He made it all the way to day 73 before he was evicted from the house in a quadruple eviction.

What happened with Josie Gibson and John James Parton?

Josie and John struck up a romance when they met on Big Brother back in 2010. Josie, of course, won her season but not before securing herself a boyfriend in John James.

The pair went on to star in a short-lived spin-off show, There's Something About Josie, but the romance fizzled in 2011 and the pair called it quits.

Was John James Parton on Love Island?

After he and Josie went their separate ways, John James disappeared off back to Australia and out of the limelight.

But then he made a shock reality TV return in 2018 when he went looking for lurrrve on Love Island Australia. Oh, and he had a TOTALLY different new look.

John James
John James in Big Brother UK 2010 ©Shutterstock

Gone was the shaggy bleach blond mop and questionable under-eye eyeliner. It was a look, tbh.

When he appeared on Love Island, John James boasted an impressive set of rock-hard abs and arms that look like they could wrestle several mutant crocodiles while simultaneously manning a family-size BBQ, while shaking us up some poolside cocktails. Not that we've fantasised about it or anything.

John James Now
John James? Is that you? ©Love Island AU/Twitter

Speaking before appearing on Love Island Australia – also filmed in Mallorca – John James told NW Magazine what he’s looking for in a girl.

“Like, a best friend you want to bang! But I'm pretty open," he said. "I fall for girls quite deep, quite quick. But I also get out just as quickly.”

How lovely.

However, things didn't quite go to plan as John James failed to find love on the show and quit the villa on day 11 after fearing that he would be dumped during a recoupling ceremony later that night.

John James Parton
He's aged like a cheese. Or a wine. One of the two. ©Shutterstock

Has John James said anything about Josie Gibson being on I'm a Celeb?

As John James's ex enters the jungle in his home country of Australia, fans wondered if another reunion could be on the cards.

However, those hopes were dashed pretty quickly when Josie admitted that she has no plans to reach out, saying, "I think I'll give that one a miss... They're your ex for a reason."

What does John James Parton do now?

Five years on from his short-lived Love Island stint, John James is still rocking the dark hair and rippling muscles and has a new career to go with his new look.

John James now works as a DJ (of course he does) and regularly plays club nights across Melbourne. It's kinda giving Aussie Joel Corry vibes, tbh. Kinda.

WATCH: Josie Gibson takes part in heat's ULTIMATE Big Brother quiz

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